Companies Like Square: Top Alternatives for Small Business Payments

If you’re a small business owner, you may have heard of Square, a popular payment processing company. However, you may not know that there are several other companies like Square that offer similar services.

These companies can help you accept credit card payments, manage your inventory, and track your sales. Also see: Companies Like Afterpay

Quick Takeaways

• There are several companies like Square that offer payment processing and other business management tools.
• PayPal Zettle, SumUp, Shopify Retail POS, Toast POS, Payment Depot, Clover POS, Lightspeed POS, Stripe Payments, QuickBooks POS, and Helcim are all good options to consider.
• By comparing your options and choosing the right provider for your needs, you can ensure that you’re getting the best possible service at the best possible price.

PayPal Zettle

If you are looking for a Square alternative to help you manage your business, PayPal Zettle is definitely worth considering.

It is a payment processing system that enables you to accept various payment methods, including credit and debit cards, mobile payments, and contactless payments.

Here are some similarities and differences between PayPal Zettle and Square:

Similarities:

• Both PayPal Zettle and Square offer mobile payment processing solutions that allow you to accept payments on the go using your smartphone or tablet.
• Both companies provide hardware options that include a card reader and a mobile app to manage transactions.
• They both offer inventory management features that allow you to keep track of your products and stock levels.
• Both companies provide customer service support via phone, email, and chat.

Differences:

• PayPal Zettle has a slightly different pricing model than Square. It charges a fixed transaction fee of 1.75% for all card payments, while Square charges a percentage-based fee that varies depending on the transaction amount.
• While Square offers a range of hardware options, including a stand-alone terminal and a point-of-sale system, PayPal Zettle only offers a card reader and a mobile app.
• PayPal Zettle offers a more limited range of features compared to Square, such as no invoicing or payroll management.
• PayPal Zettle allows you to add up to 1,000 users per account, while Square has no user limit.

Overall, PayPal Zettle is a good option for small businesses that need a simple and affordable payment processing solution. However, if you need more advanced features and hardware options, Square may be a better fit for your business.

SumUp

If you’re looking for a Square alternative, SumUp is a viable option to consider. SumUp is a mobile payments company that provides payment processing solutions for small businesses.

Here are some key points to consider when comparing SumUp to Square:

Similarities to Square:

• Payment processing: SumUp, like Square, provides payment processing solutions for small businesses.
• Mobile payments: Both SumUp and Square offer mobile payments, allowing you to accept payments on the go.
• Contactless payments: SumUp and Square both offer contactless payment options, making it easy for customers to pay without touching the terminal.
• Smartphone integration: SumUp and Square both integrate with smartphones, allowing you to use your phone as a payment terminal.
• No monthly fees: Like Square, SumUp does not charge any monthly fees.

Differences from Square:

• Pricing: SumUp’s card reader is cheaper than Square’s, but SumUp charges a higher transaction fee. SumUp’s card reader costs $39, while Square’s costs $49. SumUp charges a 2.65% transaction fee, while Square’s varies between 2.6% and 2.9% depending on the transaction type.
• Customer support: SumUp’s customer support is available by phone and email, but they do not offer live chat support like Square does.
• Inventory management: SumUp does not offer inventory management features like Square does.
• Transactions: SumUp requires a minimum transaction amount of $1, while Square does not have a minimum transaction amount.

Overall, SumUp is a solid Square alternative, offering many of the same features at a lower cost.

However, if you need advanced features like inventory management or prefer live chat support, Square may be a better fit for your business. Also see: Companies Like ADP

Toast POS

If you are looking for a point-of-sale system that is specifically designed for restaurants, Toast POS is a great option to consider. It offers a range of features that can help streamline your restaurant operations and improve your bottom line.

Some of the key features of Toast POS include inventory management, mobile app, advanced features, tracking, CRM, customer service, and marketing.

With its user-friendly interface, you can easily manage your restaurant’s operations, track inventory, and monitor sales in real-time.

One of the main similarities between Toast POS and Square is that both platforms offer a range of tools for small businesses, including restaurant point-of-sale systems and mobile payments. However, there are also some key differences to keep in mind.

For example, Toast POS is specifically designed for restaurants and offers a range of features that are tailored to the needs of restaurant owners.

On the other hand, Square is a more general-purpose platform that can be used by a wide range of businesses.

Another key difference between Toast POS and Square is that Toast POS offers more advanced features for tracking and managing inventory. T

his can be particularly helpful for restaurant owners who need to keep track of a wide range of ingredients and supplies.

Overall, if you are looking for a powerful point-of-sale system that is specifically designed for restaurants, Toast POS is definitely worth considering.

With its range of features and user-friendly interface, it can help you streamline your operations and grow your business.

Payment Depot

If you’re looking for a Square alternative that offers transparent pricing plans, Payment Depot is worth considering. Payment Depot offers a membership-based pricing model that allows businesses to save on transaction fees.

Unlike Square, Payment Depot charges a monthly membership fee instead of a per-transaction fee.

Payment Depot’s pricing plans start at $49 per month, and they offer t ee different plans based on your business’s needs.

The membership fee includes access to their 24/7 support team, which is a valuable resource for businesses that need help with their merchant services.

In terms of account stability, Payment Depot offers a robust payment processing platform that is reliable and secure.

They offer credit card processing, ACH processing, and other payment methods to ensure that businesses can accept payments from their customers.

Here are some similarities and differences between Payment Depot and Square:

Similarities

• Both offer payment processing services
• Both offer 24/7 support
• Both offer credit card processing

Differences

• Payment Depot charges a monthly membership fee, while Square charges a per-transaction fee
• Payment Depot offers ACH processing, while Square does not
• Payment Depot offers transparent pricing plans, while Square’s pricing can be more opaque

Overall, Payment Depot is a solid option for businesses that want a transparent pricing model and access to 24/7 support.

While it may not offer all of the features that Square does, it’s a reliable and stable payment processing platform that can help businesses streamline their operations.

Clover POS

If you’re looking for an alternative to Square, Clover POS is a great option to consider. Clover POS is a point of sale system that offers a variety of features for businesses of all sizes. Here are some similarities and differences to Square:

Similarities to Square

• Payment processing: Both Clover POS and Square offer payment processing services, allowing you to accept credit and debit card payments.
• Card reader: Both Clover POS and Square offer card readers that can be used with smartphones or tablets.
• Inventory: Both Clover POS and Square offer inventory management tools to help you keep track of your stock levels.
• Swipe and contactless: Both Clover POS and Square offer swipe and contactless payment options.
• Invoicing: Both Clover POS and Square offer invoicing tools to help you create and send invoices to your customers.
• Customer support: Both Clover POS and Square offer customer support options to help you with any issues you may encounter.

Differences from Square

• Restaurant features: Clover POS offers specific features for restaurants, such as table management and menu customization.
• Clover Go: Clover POS offers a mobile card reader called Clover Go, which allows you to accept payments on the go.
• SumUp Solo: Clover POS also offers SumUp Solo, a card reader that can be used without a smartphone or tablet.
• Gift cards: Clover POS offers gift card services, allowing you to create and sell gift cards to your customers.
• Discounts: Clover POS offers the ability to create and apply discounts to transactions.

Overall, Clover POS is a great alternative to Square, offering many of the same features along with some unique features for specific industries.

With its range of products and services, Clover POS is a versatile option for businesses looking to streamline their payment processing and point of sale systems.

Lightspeed POS

If you’re looking for a Square alternative, Lightspeed POS is one of the top competitors in the market. It’s a cloud-based point of sale system that offers a range of features to help retailers manage their inventory, sales, and customers.

Similarities to Square

• Mobile app: Like Square, Lightspeed offers a mobile app that allows you to manage your store on-the-go.
• Inventory management: Lightspeed provides robust inventory management tools that allow you to track your stock levels, set reorder points, and receive alerts when you’re running low on a particular item.
• Customer service: Lightspeed offers 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and live chat, which is similar to Square’s support options.
• Accounting software: Lightspeed integrates with accounting software, such as QuickBooks and Xero, to help you manage your finances.

Differences from Square

• Range: While Square is more suitable for small to medium-sized businesses, Lightspeed is better suited for larger businesses with more complex needs.
• Tracking: Lightspeed offers more advanced tracking features, such as serial number tracking and lot tracking, which are not available on Square.
• CRM: Lightspeed has a built-in CRM system that allows you to manage your customer database, create customer profiles, and send targeted marketing campaigns. Square, on the other hand, does not offer a built-in CRM system.

Overall, Lightspeed POS is a great option for retailers who need a more robust point of sale system than Square can provide.

With its advanced inventory management features, customer service options, and accounting software integrations, it’s a solid choice for businesses looking to grow and expand.

Stripe Payments

If you’re looking for an alternative to Square, Stripe is a popular option that offers a range of payment processing solutions for businesses. Here are some similarities and differences between Stripe and Square that you should consider:

Similarities:

• Both Stripe and Square offer payment processing solutions for businesses of all sizes.
• Both platforms allow you to accept credit card payments online and in-person.
• Both Stripe and Square offer competitive transaction fees and pricing models.
• Both platforms offer a range of features, including fraud detection and prevention, recurring billing, and more.
• Both Stripe and Square provide customer support via email and phone.

Differences:

• Stripe is primarily an online payment processing solution, whereas Square is more focused on in-person transactions.
• Stripe requires you to have a merchant account to use its services, whereas Square does not.
• Stripe’s processing fees are slightly lower than Square’s, but its pricing model can be more complex.
• Stripe offers more customization options for its payment forms and checkout pages.
• Square offers a range of additional services, such as payroll and marketing tools, that Stripe does not.

Overall, Stripe is a great option for businesses that primarily operate online and want more flexibility and customization options.

If you’re looking for a more all-in-one solution that includes in-person transactions and additional services, Square may be a better fit for your needs.

QuickBooks POS

If you’re looking for an alternative to Square, QuickBooks POS may be a great option for you.

QuickBooks POS is an all-in-one system that offers many of the same features as Square, including point of sale, inventory management, invoicing, customer support, and accounting software. Here are some similarities and differences to consider:

Similarities to Square:

• QuickBooks POS offers a virtual terminal for processing credit card payments.
• Both Square and QuickBooks POS offer mobile options for on-the-go transactions.
• Both have options for integrating with other software and apps.
• QuickBooks POS offers a free plan, like Square, but also has paid plans with additional features.

Differences from Square:

• QuickBooks POS is primarily designed for businesses that use QuickBooks for their accounting software.
• QuickBooks POS has more advanced inventory management features than Square.
• QuickBooks POS offers 24/7 customer support, while Square’s is only available during business hours.
• QuickBooks POS has more limitations on the types of businesses it can support, such as no support for multi-location businesses.

Overall, QuickBooks POS is a great option for businesses that are already using QuickBooks for their accounting needs and need a more advanced inventory management system.

However, if you’re looking for a more flexible option that can support a wider range of businesses, Square may be a better fit.

Helcim

If you’re looking for an alternative to Square, Helcim is one of the options that you might want to consider.

Helcim is a payment processor that offers a range of services, including merchant accounts, online payments, and point of sale solutions. Here are some similarities and differences between Helcim and Square:

Similarities

• Both Helcim and Square offer payment processing services, including credit card processing, debit card processing, and mobile payments.
• Both companies offer point of sale solutions that are designed to be user-friendly and easy to set up.
• Both Helcim and Square offer online payments, making it easy for businesses to accept payments from customers all over the world.

Differences

• Helcim offers stable, full-service merchant accounts, while Square offers a more simplified approach to merchant accounts.
• Helcim offers month-to-month billing with no long-term contracts, while Square requires businesses to sign up for a contract.
• Helcim offers interchange-plus pricing exclusively, while Square offers a variety of pricing options.

When it comes to customer service, Helcim is known for its excellent support team, which is available 24/7 to help businesses with any issues they may encounter. Helcim also offers account stability, which means that businesses can rely on their payment processing system to work consistently and without interruption.

In terms of transaction fees and processing fees, Helcim offers competitive rates that are often lower than those offered by Square. This can be a significant advantage for businesses that process a high volume of transactions.

Overall, Helcim is a solid alternative to Square that offers a range of services and features that can help businesses streamline their payment processing and improve their overall financial management.